Unique Washington Elopement Timeline Ideas

Hi Friend! You’re probably here because you’re a) wondering how you fill the time for an adventurous elopement or b) are looking for unique Washington elopement timeline ideas! I absolutely love WA and everything it has to offer. We have such a unique array of geography, wildlife, and experiences, that I can’t really imagine any place better to celebrate your love! 

What can you expect in this article?

• Celebrating All Day
• Unique Timeline Ideas
  • 8 Hour Hiking Elopement (2 of you)
  • 8 Hour Whale Watching + San Juan Island Elopement Timeline with a few family/friends
  • 2 Day Mount Rainier + Winery Intimate Wedding
• Additional local to Washington experiences

Why Celebrate All day?

When you elope it is just as special, if not even more special, than if you were to have a big wedding, so why can’t you celebrate on the same scale?  You choose exactly what you want to do which could either be something you two love doing together (what’s your favorite date?) or an epic adventure that you probably wouldn’t have thought to do otherwise. Ever had something on your bucket list that you’re like “someday I wish we could do that!”  This is your chance! AND by booking me, you’ll have a photographer to help document it 🙂 Read more on what it means to elope in my resource here!

I want to celebrate all day, but what would I even do?

I’m sure at this point you love this idea but are probably overwhelmed by all the possibilities in your brain. Don’t worry! I have some timeline examples right here of how you can fill your day that line up with the packages I offer. Something I want to preface though is you don’t have to hike if you don’t want to. You can treat this day as more of a sightseeing activity day as well!

If you book me to photograph your day, you also get my planning guidance. While I’m not a full planner and don’t book anything for you, I have an elopement guide that will help guide you in making exciting decisions on exactly what you want to book for your day. And of course, I’m here if you need any vendor recommendations or want to bounce any other ideas off of me! If you want to have a planner take care of the booking and styling for the day, let me know and I can help refer some people! One thing to note, choosing a weekday with any of these options will always be more private so consider that when thinking about what you want to do! So without further ado…

---

Here are some unique Washington elopement timeline ideas!

8 hour Adventure Hiking Elopement Timeline (Just you two!)

5:00am | Arrive at Trailhead & start hike (2.5 mi)

7:30am | Arrive at Ceremony Spot! Help each other get ready! 

8:00am | Vow Reading

8:15am | Explore + Portraits

9:30am | Picnic Breakfast + read letters from family

10:00am | Hike back to trailhead, explore, grab some photos on the way (2.5mi)

12:00 pm | Photo coverage wraps

This is a simple example of a popular hike in the mountains! This is a beautiful Alpine Lake that is quite a popular hike in the Seattle area. You may look at this and think, “wow, you’re budgeting an hour per mile? Why?” The answer for me is simple – it gives you room to relax, breathe and enjoy anything you may find along the way. This point of an elopement is to slow down, be intentional, and take your time. There is no reason to race to the top as that’s not what an elopement adventure is. This Lake in particular has a full loop around the lake, and there’s so much to see and explore around it! Adventuring is fun, and I plan for it in our hike! In addition to the relaxation, I’m hoping this will give us a chance to de-sweat when we get to the top, or take tons of snack breaks along the way. I’m carrying a heavy load with my equipment up a mountain, so I also need to take care of myself so I can get those amazing images and still have the energy to cheer you on! 

Want to learn how to plan a hiking elopement? Check out my resource here!

---

8 Hour Whale Watching + San Juan Island Elopement Timeline with a few family/friends

5:00am | Sage Trails arrives at VRBO to photograph getting ready + cozy PJ details!

7:00am | Sunrise first Look on property grounds + Portraits

8:30am | Drive to Friday Harbor to meet guests for a Private Whale Watching tour with San Juan Safaris

9:00am | Tour Begins

10:00am | Vow Reading (100% Flexible depending on any whale sightings!) + Enjoy food and drinks on board! Family Portraits onboard!

1:00pm | Tour ends & Photo coverage wraps (they say all tours are between 3-4 hours but do also offer custom flexibility depending on your budget)

If you want to turn this into a 10-hour day…

1:30 | Drive to any restaurant (like Coho Restaurant, Downriggers, Cask & Schooner Public House & Restaurant, etc) to have food, give toasts, and have your first dance!

3:30pm | Photo coverage wraps

Curious how you would narrow down your guest list for a day like this? Check out my resource on how to narrow your guest list! And if you want to involve your family during your day, check out my resource on all the ways to involve your family and friends!

I LOVE love love the ocean. I’m a water baby at heart so witnessing a wedding at sea has always been a dream of mine. I also love the Orcas <3 And trust me when I say the San Juan Islands are a magical way to experience Washington. The rugged coastline, coastal vibes, the ocean, wildlife, sunsets…just amazing. AND the islands are small too. You could choose to also add in a short hike for portraits and private time, on the other side of the island, which is only about 15 min away!

I really love this whale watching company because they have a respectful approach to the animals and are working to educate the public on the orcas and why we need to protect them. The more education, the more awareness, and hopefully more safety for our whale populations! 

---

2 Day Intimate Winery Wedding + Adventure Timeline

Day 1

12:00pm | Arrive at the trailhead in Mount Rainier National Park & start hike (3 mi)

3:00pm | Arrive at Ceremony Spot! Help each other get ready! 

3:30pm | Private Vow Reading

3:45pm | Explore + Portraits + Snacks!

5:00pm | Hike back to the trailhead (3 mi), explore, grab some photos on the way 

8:00 pm | Photo coverage wraps & head to Yakima for next day festivities.

Day 2

2:00pm | Sage Trails arrives at Gilbert Cellars to photograph getting ready details!

3:00pm | First Look on property grounds + Couple Portraits

4:00pm | Couple relaxes as close family & friends arrive

4:30pm | Ceremony with close friends/family 

5:00pm | Family Photos

5:30pm | Wine + Oyster Time

6:30pm | Intimate Dinner under the stars

7:00pm | Toasts + Dessert

7:30pm | Dance Party

8:30pm | Photography Wraps

This two-day version of Washington elopement timeline ideas, gives you the best of both worlds if you are on the fence between eloping or having a small celebration. Keep the private vows just for you two and then have a more traditional experience the next day! While this is flexible, I highly suggest utilizing weekdays for any adventure as there will be fewer people out and about. Extend your experience to celebrate more!

---

Here are some other cool (and local to Washington) experiences! 

• Book the Alpine Lakes High Camp for an epic backcountry weekend of fun!
• Charter Kenmore Air Sea Plans for a once-in-a-lifetime fly & exploration!
• Head to Ross Lake Resort for a floating water cabin Kayaking adventure!
• Book an ATV Tour with Chinnok ATV!
• Book a Private Sailboat Experience with Amelia Catamaran Charters
• Private Hot Air Balloon Ride with Snohomish Balloon Ride
• Remote wedding adventure at Lodge at Stehekin where you need to arrive by ferry!

The sky is the limit!

I hope as you read through all these unique Washington elopement timeline ideas, you’re seeing all the amazing things you can do for your wedding day whether it is just the two of you or with a few family and friends! I can’t wait to photograph it!